Novelty item

ABSTRACT

A novelty item is disclosed herein, the item having a first piece of cord that is folded generally in half and a second piece of cord tied in a knot about the first piece of cord that is folded in half. The first piece of cord that is folded in half has a loop end with a pair of leg portions extending therefrom. The knot of the second piece of cord is tied about the pair of leg portions and is spaced apart from the loop end. The leg portions each have an end that has been frayed, the two ends being oppositely disposed from the loop end. The second piece of cord that is tied in a knot about the first piece of cord also has two ends that have been frayed, each end oppositely disposed from each other and connected to the knot by a pair of arm portions. The combination of the first piece of cord that is folded in half and the second piece of cord that is tied in a knot about the first piece of cord forms a humanoid figurine that affords a novelty item.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/867,213 filed Nov. 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a novelty item, and morespecifically to a novelty item in the shape of a humanoid figurine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Novelty items have long been used for amusement with such items used asgifts and/or to express a particular sentiment or emotion. Novelty itemsare found in many forms and are frequently valued for their simplicityand cleverness of design.

In the workplace, it is not uncommon for an individual to be asked toperform a task or a plurality of tasks. However, the individual can bestressed, not feeling well, overloaded with prior tasks, and the like.As such, a simply designed novelty item that could portray a polite andamusing “no thank you” to an individual that has requested a task to beperformed would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novelty item is disclosed herein, the item having a first piece ofcord that is folded generally in half and a second piece of cord tied ina knot about the first piece of cord that is folded in half. The firstpiece of cord that is folded in half has a loop end with a pair of legportions extending therefrom. The knot of the second piece of cord istied about the pair of leg portions and is spaced apart from the loopend. The leg portions each have an end that has been frayed, the twoends being oppositely disposed from the loop end. The second piece ofcord that is tied in a knot about the first piece of cord also has twoends that have been frayed, each end oppositely disposed from each otherand connected to tie knot by a pair of arm portions. The combination ofthe first piece of cord that is folded in half and the second piece ofcord that is tied in a knot about the first piece of cord forms ahumanoid figurine that affords a novelty item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a novelty item in the form of a humanoidfigurine, the novelty item including two pieces of cord that areassembled to form a loop end, a couple of legs, and a couple of arms.The loop end represents a head portion of a humanoid figurine and theleg and arm portions each have ends that are frayed and represent feetand hands, respectively. The novelty item can include a tag with indiciathereon, the tag having a saying that can provide amusement to anindividual that approaches and sees the novelty item.

In particular, the novelty item includes a first piece of cord that isfolded generally in half, thereby forming a loop end with two frayedends oppositely disposed from the loop end. A second piece of cord isprovided and is tied in a knot about the first piece of cord that hasbeen folded in half, this second piece of cord having two endsoppositely disposed from each other and also being frayed. The knot isspaced apart from the loop end and affords for a loop between the knotof the second piece of cord and the loop end of the first piece of cord.With the second piece of cord tied in a knot about the first piece ofcord that has been folded generally in half, the knot being spaced apartfrom the loop end, a humanoid figurine is provided with the loop and theloop end forming the head portion of the figurine and two leg portionsextending from the knot forming the legs of the figurine. In addition,two arm portions of the second piece of cord that extend from the knotform the arms of the figurine. The frayed ends of the two leg portionsand the two arm portions represent hands and feet of an individual andby being frayed allow for an individual to refer to the humanoidfigurine as a “frayed knot,” the use of this term affording a polite andamusing “I'm afraid not” when asked to perform a task.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is showngenerally at reference numeral 10. The novelty item 10 includes a firstpiece of cord 100 and a second piece of cord 200. The first piece ofcord is folded generally in half and forms a loop end 130 with a firstend 110 and a second end 120 oppositely disposed therefrom. The secondpiece of cord 200 is tied in a knot 230 about the first piece of cord100 that has been folded generally in half. The knot 230 is spaced apartfrom the loop end 130, thereby affording for a loop 132 therebetween.Between the knot 230 and the first end 110 and the second end 120 of thefirst piece of cord 100, is a first leg portion 140 and a second legportion 150, respectively. The second piece of cord 200 has a first end210 and a second end 220 that extend from the knot 230 and areoppositely disposed from each other. Between the knot 230 and the firstend 210 and the second end 220 is a first arm portion 240 and a secondarm portion 250, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a humanoid figurine is afforded by the firstpiece of cord 100 having a loop end 130 and the leg portions 140 and150, and the second piece of cord 200 having the arm portions 240 and250. The first end 110 and second end 120 of the first piece of cord 100can optionally include a frayed end 112 and 122, respectively. Likewise,the first end 210 and the second end 220 of the second piece of cord canoptionally include a frayed end 212 and 222, respectively. In someinstances, the first piece of cord and second piece of cord have abraided cover made from a first material and a core made from a secondmaterial. If this is included, the fraying of the ends furtherhighlights the end portions of the first piece of cord 100 and thesecond piece of cord 200 and aids in the illustration of hands and feet.

Optionally included and shown in phantom in FIG. 1 can be a tag 300 withindicia 310 thereon. As illustrated in this figure for example purposesonly, the tag 300 can have indicia 310 such as “I'm a frayed knot . . .when you just can't say yes”. It is appreciated that other words,phrases and the like can be used. In this manner, an individual can beamused when approaching the novelty item that appears as a humanoidfigurine and observing the knot and the frayed ends and then reading the“I'm a frayed knot” tag. Likewise, an individual could be amused whenasking a coworker to do a favor, the coworker handing the individual thenovelty item disclosed herein and saying “I'm a frayed knot”.

It is appreciated that the first piece of cord 100 and the second pieceof cord 200 can be made from any material known to those skilled in theart, illustratively including various types of cord, rope, wire, and thelike. It is also appreciated that the exact dimensions of the variousfeatures of the novelty item are not critical, just so long as the itemappears as a humanoid figurine having portions that represent the head,arms and legs thereof.

The foregoing drawing, discussion and description are illustrative of aspecific embodiment of the present invention, but they are not meant tobe limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications andvariations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skillin the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the followingclaims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of theinvention.

1. A novelty item comprising: a first piece of cord folded generally inhalf forming a loop end; a second piece of cord tied in a knot aboutsaid first piece of cord folded in half, said knot spaced apart fromsaid loop end; said first piece of cord folded in half and said secondpiece of cord tied in a knot about said first piece of cord forming ahumanoid figurine.
 2. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein said firstpiece of cord folded generally in half has two leg portions extendingfrom said loop end.
 3. The novelty item of claim 2, wherein said two legportions each have a frayed end oppositely disposed from said loop end.4. The novelty item of claim 1, wherein said second piece of cord tiedin a knot has two arm portions extending from said knot.
 5. The noveltyitem of claim 4, wherein said two arm portions each have a frayed endoppositely disposed from said knot.
 6. The novelty item of claim 1,wherein said first piece of cord and said second piece cord has abraided cover made from a first material and a core made from a secondmaterial.
 7. The novelty item of claim 1, further comprising a tagattached to said first piece of cord or said second piece of cord. 8.The novelty item of claim 7, wherein said tag has indicia thereon.
 9. Ahumanoid figurine novelty item comprising: a first piece of cord madehaving a braided cover made from a first material and a core made from asecond material, said first piece of cord folded generally in half andforming a loop end; a second piece of cord having a braided cover madefrom said first material and a core made from said second material, saidsecond piece of cord tied in knot about said first piece of cord foldgenerally in half, said knot being spaced apart from said loop end; saidfirst piece of cord folded in half and said second piece of cord tied ina knot about said first piece of cord forming a humanoid figurine. 10.The novelty item of claim 9, wherein said first piece of cord foldedgenerally in half has two leg portions extending from said loop end. 11.The novelty item of claim 10, wherein said two leg portions each have afrayed end oppositely disposed from said loop end.
 12. The novelty itemof claim 9, wherein said second piece of cord tied in a knot has two armportions extending from said knot.
 13. The novelty item of claim 12,wherein said two arm portions each have a frayed end oppositely disposedfrom said knot.
 14. The novelty item of claim 9, further comprising atag attached to said first piece of cord or said second piece of cord.15. The novelty item of claim 14, wherein said tag has indicia thereon.16. A humanoid figurine novelty item comprising: a first piece of cordmade having a braided cover made from a first material and a core madefrom a second material, said first piece of cord folded generally inhalf and forming a loop end with two leg portions extending from saidloop end; a second piece of cord having a braided cover made from saidfirst material and a core made from said second material, said secondpiece of cord tied in knot about said first piece of cord fold generallyin half, said knot being spaced apart from said loop end and having twoarm portions extending therefrom; said first piece of cord folded inhalf and said second piece of cord tied in a knot about said first pieceof cord forming a humanoid figurine.
 17. The novelty item of claim 16,wherein said two leg portions each have a frayed end oppositely disposedfrom said loop end.
 18. The novelty item of claim 16, wherein said twoarm portions each have a frayed end oppositely disposed from said knot.19. The novelty item of claim 16, further comprising a tag attached tosaid first piece of cord or said second piece of cord.
 20. The noveltyitem of claim 19, wherein said tag has indicia thereon.